Could Brad Paisley be taking a place next to Mariah Carey as one of the new judges on American Idol? According to Deadline.com, Brad is being considered as a replacement on the judges panel since Jennifer Lopez and Steven Tyler decided not to return next season. Mariah Carey has already been confirmed as a new judge, and original Idol judge Randy Jackson is expected to return next season.

Brad has several ties to the American Idol family. He scored a hit duet with former Idol champ Carrie Underwood on "Remind Me," and they've co-hosted the CMA Awards for several years now. Last year's Idol winner Scotty McCreery is on tour with Brad this year too.